Key scripture -“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Are you willing to walk Jesus’ way, which is the only way that leads to life?

Jesus’ way is narrow. Almost everything in the Sermon on the Mount which is found in Matthew Chapters 5-7 makes people a bit uncomfortable. It is not the easy way, but it is the right way and the only way.

There is an easy way to live a so-called Christian life and most people go that way. Jesus’ way is hard, therefore, in order to justify their decision to follow the ways of the world and not follow Jesus, people label it extreme or old fashioned as they head down the broad road that is so inviting and easy but that leads to destruction. That is why Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

If you build your life on the easy way to live, you will find that your life has no foundations and that the easy way will end up destroying your life. A focus on self is never good for anyone.

God knows that putting Him first in your life is hard to do and by doing that you oppose your sin nature and the world in a major way, but He promises that He will give you the strength to live that life. Paul experienced how God’s grace was sufficient and how God’s strength was perfected in his weaknesses. “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Not many people really choose to put God on the throne in their lives, and go through the narrow gate, but those who do, find a life worth living, because it is a life empowered with purpose, joy, peace, grace and strength.

Which gate are you choosing to walk through?

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I want to walk the narrow road with Jesus. I do not want to follow my sin nature or the ways of the world. I know that I do not have the courage or strength to do this and that is why I do it in the strength of Jesus, because “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). If I operate under His authority and victory then I can withstand anything and defeat sin. I choose to build my life on Jesus, the Solid Rock; Jesus, the Living Word; Jesus, who defeated sin and death; Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Jesus told us how important it was to be a doer and not just a hearer of His Word when He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27). Give me the wisdom to live an uncompromising life and to choose You and Your Word over everything else in this world as I build my life on Jesus The Rock. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.